Person: Emma Johnson

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Two farmers provided enterprise budgets for cherry tomato production in 2017. • Cherry tomatoes were grown in a heated greenhouse (Ann Franzenburg), and an unheated high tunnel (Emma Johnson). • Revenue and expenses, including a breakdown of labor, was reported by each farmer. Key Findings • Labor was the largest expense for both Franzenburg and Johnson, accounting for 62% and 68% of their total expenses, respectively. • Harvesting and packing was the most time-consuming task on both farms, accounting for 74% of labor-hours at Franzenburg and 62% of labor-hours at Johnson. • Both farms had profitable cherry tomato crops, netting $1.31/lb at Franzenburg and $1.54/lb at Johnson.

In a Nutshell • Three farmers provided enterprise budgets for cucumber production in 2016. • Cucumbers were grown in a heated greenhouse (Ann Franzenburg), an unheated high tunnel (Emma Johnson), and an open field (Jan Libbey). • Franzenburg, Johnson, and Libbey also provided enterprise budgets for year one of this study in 2015. Key Findings • Labor was the largest expense for Johnson and Libbey, accounting for 74% and 94% of their total expenses, respectively. Labor was only 40% of Franzenburg’s costs. • Labor breakdown by task differed at each farm. The largest tasks on each farm, measured in hours, were: pruning and trellising at Franzenburg, field maintenance at Johnson, and harvesting and packing at Libbey. • Production in the greenhouse at Franzenburg’s provided highest yield (lb fruit/ft2) and number of fruit per ft2. • Among the three farms, outdoor production at Libbey’s had the highest net income per pound.

Three farmers provided enterprise budgets for cucumber production. • Cucumbers were grown in a heated greenhouse (Ann Franzenburg), an unheated high tunnel (Emma Johnson), and an open field (Jan Libbey). Key Findings • Labor was the largest expense for all farms, ranging from 56% of enterprise expenses to 93%. • Trellising and pruning were the biggest labor task for Ann, while harvesting and packing was the largest portion of labor for Emma and Jan. • Production in the heated greenhouse at Ann’s provided highest yield (lb fruit/ft2) and number of fruit per ft2, and also the highest net income per ft2 and per fruit. • Among the three farms, outdoor production at Jan’s had the highest net income per pound.

Are you a fruit or vegetable farmer who’s been waiting for insurance options that might work for you? Two promising options are available in 2015: Non-Insured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP).NAP, offered by Farm Services Agency (FSA), now provides 100 percent crop loss payback, with choices of crop loss threshold – a major improvement of past years. WFRP, offered by USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA), is a new insurance program. Listen in as Kevin McClure of FSA and Mark Shilts of RMA provide an overview of the two insurance options, and then work through costs and benefits of a sample farm provided by Emma Johnson of Buffalo Ridge Orchard.

Practical Farmers of Iowa announces the newest class of beginning farmers enrolled in the Savings Incentive ProgramFor Release: November 27, 2013 Download PDF (145 KB) AMES, Iowa — Practical Farmers of Iowa has selected 21 beginning farmers to enroll into its Savings Incentive Program. This is the fourth round of enrollees, bringing the total number [...]

November 27, 2013

NEWS RELEASE

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